Page 38 of The Baritone's Rival

“Nonsense.” Rhonda dismissed the idea with a roll of her eyes. “Anthony’s grandmother was good to us, even thoughshe didn’t know what we were. Anthony has been the same. I wouldn’t feel right not keeping a look out. You two are obviously in some kind of trouble?—”

Oscar opened his mouth to answer, but Rhonda waved him off.

“—but I don’t need to know what it is. Just don’t shoot at a wolf if you see one nosing around.”

Trent nodded mutely.

“Thank you for?—”

Before Oscar could finish the sentence, she was already moving, fur sprouting once again as her bones cracked and shifted. She disappeared into the brush with surprising grace, considering the unsettling transformation her body was undergoing.

“That was a first for me,” Trent said, lowering the knife that he realized he’d held in front of him for the whole conversation with Rhonda.

“I’ve noticed wolf shifters from afar, but they tend to be very isolationist. They avoid humans and other supernaturals. Anthony must have done a significant favor for her to approach us like that.”

Trent nodded, not knowing what else to say. He had thought that he’d seen everything, but the existence of wolf shifters niggled at his brain.

“I had assumed vampires were it,” he said to Oscar, turning back toward the cabin. “If wolf shifters are a thing, what other supernatural creatures are prowling the world?”

Oscar smiled, putting his arm around Trent’s shoulder as they walked across the uneven grass.

“Trust me, you don’t want to think about it. Regardless, I’m thankful for the extra protection. I doubt anyone was able to follow from the city, but that doesn’t mean there might not beother dangers up here. I’ll sleep better knowing a wolf is out there guarding us.”

Chapter 12

Oscar

Trent went back into the cabin to put away his weapons and eat his now-cold breakfast. Oscar, on the other hand, had lost his appetite. He stayed out on the porch, leaning forward with his hands against the rail, ruminating.

He hadn’t been lying when he had told Trent he didn’t think they’d been followed. To avoid detection by Freddie and Lillian, as well as by Oscar himself on the road, would be some feat. That’s quite the drive for someone to be tailing them and not reveal themselves.

But still he was uneasy.

“What’s going on?”

Oscar spun around at the question, his claws out and ready to attack…Justin. It was Justin. He relaxed his stance as Justin clopped up the stairs. Oscar took him in. He knew he was a bit of a clothes snob, but surely his friend owned more than just plaid pajama pants. Not the ideal outfit to go walking through the woods in.

“Did something happen?” Justin asked.

Oscar rubbed his eyes with his hand. “Not really, but my senses are on high alert.”

“What?”

Oscar gestured to the lifeless body of the crow on the porch floor. “Bird crashed into the windowpane. It cracked the glass and scared the shit out of us.”

“Oh.” Justin stared at the crow for a moment. “Is that all?”

“We had a visit from the alpha of the Scopan Lake pack. She seemed to think we had visitors. Several of them.”

Justin furrowed his eyebrows. “She was probably just smelling me.”

“That’s what I said, but she wasn’t convinced.”

Justin shrugged. “Well, I’ve traipsed all over, and the only predators I’ve come across were squirrels. No sign of vampires. Or humans, either.”

“Good.” Oscar blew out a stream of air from his lungs, willing his muscles to relax. “I’m being ridiculous.”

Justin stepped toward him. The slim blonde only came up to his chest. He reached out, touching Oscar’s arm.

---